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Scott County Board of Education

The Scott County Board of Education meeting held on May 7, 2013 including a celebration of the success of the Elkhorn Crossing School as participants in the VEX Robotics World Competition. Teacher Doug Klein shared with the Board that, of the 7000 international teams, the Scott County team ranked among the top three. Students shared testimony about assisting fellow students from other countries which required them to move past information and communication barriers and reach a shared goal.

Superintendent Patricia Putty also highlighted the outstanding accomplishments of the SCHS choral music program. A total of 34 students from Scott County High School earned distinction as members of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) All-State Chorus while 10 students made the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Honor Choir. For the Kentucky ACDA, 10 students participated from the Ninth Grade School.

Putty recognized the heroic efforts of Royal Spring Middle School Teacher Salin Simpson who recently helped to save the life of a student who collapsed during his physical education class. Simpson graciously accepted the accolades and shared that he experienced a life-changing moment when the student visited his class this week. The student is expected to return to school in the coming days.

The Board of Education continued the order of business to accept donations to Cardinals Hustle Against Hunger 5K, the Ninth Grade School Freshman Prom (FROM), and Georgetown Middle School for the purchase of uniforms for students. In total there were 10 line items for donation approval noted on the agenda. The Board also discussed the timeframe for approval and the procedures related to Board approval of donations as compared to when schools receive the donated items and/or money. Members stressed the importance of Board approval happening prior to the acceptance of donations. Other items of consent included common carrier transport, items for surplus, and agreements with colleges and universities for student teacher placements.

The Board engaged in discussion related to the certification of substitutes and voted to approve emergency certification outlined by the Kentucky Department of Education which provides for the condition of teacher substitutes who have earned at least 64 credit hours while maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.5.

After hearing details related to the Request for Proposals for custodial services at Lemons Mill Elementary, Western Elementary, and Elkhorn Crossing School, the Board decided to table discussion to allow time for Board review of the related documents and additional questioning. The hybrid plan presented would outsource custodial services for the schools noted but would provide for a full-time employee of Scott County Schools to serve as Head Custodian at each facility. The jobs of current custodial employees will not be subject to this plan and no current Scott County Schools employee will lose their job if the Board votes to move forward with this trial initiative. The plan could save an estimated $18,000 annually with additional savings if the district does not have to purchase and maintain cleaning equipment. The Board of Education will continue this dialogue at the board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 6:00pm at the Central Office.

The Board voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Kentucky Science Center which will offer robotics camps for elementary students in Scott County this summer. The Board also approved the summer feeding program for 2013 to be held at Southern Elementary. Last year the program served 3,657 breakfast meals and 10,646 lunch meals and is free for anyone age 18 or under. Other items of business included renewal of worker’s compensation insurance, student and athletic insurance coverage, and bus driver/ classified employee physicals. The Board also voted to renew student drug testing services. To date this year 70 Scott County High School students have been randomly selected for drug screening. The school district and current management company maintain strict confidentiality guidelines related to drug screening.

The Scott County Board of Education continued discussion of a second high school as Chairperson Roger Ward asked members to carefully consider what questions they would need to have answered before action could be taken on a plan presented by Superintendent Patricia Putty. Members engaged in thoughtful discussion each voicing opinions and hearing from the audience about issues concerning merits of the current plan, bonding potential, architectural renderings and site plans, and public forums. Members also discussed one possibility of accommodating ninth grade students in the first phase of the second high school that will become a stand-alone facility when funds become available. The Board agreed that continued dialogue is needed on this important topic.